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C. S. Landis to Horace Kephart, April 28, 1922, page 1

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  • Box 939, Wilmington, Delaware* April 38, 1923 Mr. Horace Kephart, Bryson City, N. C* Dear Mr. Kephart:- In looking over the May issue of "Outing", I noticed that you advised one of your correspondents that you knew of no preparation for blueing which would enable shooters to blue their own firearms, and that you always advise them to have this done by a gunsmith or at the factory. I have given out the same recommendations for a great many years, but have recently come across a blueing solution that does do the work and which can be used successfully by anyone who has a reasonable amount of common sense and a small amount of equipment* The blueing solution is put up in 3 oz, bottles, by Frank L. Hoffman, whose address is Box 351, Fredericksburg, Va. He sells this for $3.50 per bottle, which is sufficient to blue about half a dozen gun barrels* I have seen him do the work and can explain just how it is done, and can assure you that the results are very, very satisfactory. First he takes a long, thin, rectangular-shaped iron receptacle such as oould easily be made out of tin or galvanized iron, and fills it about two-thirds full of water. He then heats the water by placing a gas flame or a gasoline torch under the receptacle. While the water is heating or before, the surface of the barrel is buffed off smooth and entirely free of the old blueing. Everything is smoothed pp nicely, and any traces of grease or grit are removed. The barrel is not plugged. While the water is heating he takes the bottle of blueing solution, places it in the water to keep it warm and then takes an old tooth brush or a brush of that character, takes the barrel in one hand and rubs the hoi blueing solution over the barrel, by dipping the brush into the bottle and then rubbing it on. No care at all is used in putting on an even coating as it is just daubed on roughly. The barrel is then placed in hot water and allowed to boil for two or three minutes, after which it is taken out, held in one hand by means of a dry rag or cloth and then it is rubbed off with a dry towel. Another coating of blueing solution is immediately daubed on. The barrel is put back into the water and boiled. This process is repeated eight or ten times, after which the surface that has been blued is thoroughly wiped off
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